아랍에미리트 연방의 7개국 중 하나로, 떠오르는 산유국이자 국제무역항 두바이. 중동의 호황과 더불어 새롭게 부상하는 두바이의 호화로운 휴양 리조트인 마디나 아레나 주메이라(Madina Arena Jumeirah)에서 제 1회 걸프아트페어(3.8-3.10)가 성황리에 열렸다. 전시 기간 중 걸프뉴스지에는 ‘문화적 중추로서의 아랍연방의 위상을 재확인하는 전시’로서 쉬크 무하메드 빈 라시드 알 마크톰 부통령의 전시 관람 모습이 헤드라인으로 장식됐다. 참가 화랑들로는 런던의 화이트큐브와 도쿄의 스카이갤러리를 비롯하여 세계적인 갤러리 41곳이 선정되었으며 한국에서는 가나아트갤러리와 갤러리현대가 참가했다. 한국 측에서 선보인 작가들은 가나아트갤러리의 배병우, 김아타, 김강용, 김창열, C Gene(정혜진), 전병현, 그리고 갤러리현대의 오치균, 배준성, 전광영, 노상균 등이다.

작년에 두바이에서 크리스티 경매가 대성공을 거둔 이후, 올해 걸프아트페어는 소더비의 교육프로그램과 글로벌 아트포럼을 아트페어만큼이나 비중 있게 개최함으로써 유럽-아시아를 잇는 두바이 거점에 영향력을 미치려는 영국의 태도를 확인할 수 있었다. 한편 ‘DIFC 걸프아트페어’라는 타이틀이 의미하듯이 걸프아트페어의 지분 50%를 매입한 두바이국제금융센터(DIFC)는 두바이의 벤처산업으로서 아트페어를 집중 겨냥하고 있었으며 곧 2억5000만 달러 규모의 중추적인 세계 미술시장으로 자리 잡을 태세이다. 

세계미술시장 진출, 합력이 필요하다

이번 걸프아트페어의 글로벌 아트포럼에 한국대표로 참가하여 ‘세계 미술시장의 문맥 속에서의 한국현대미술’을 발표한 필자는 같은 아시아 지역으로서 두바이의 한국진출 향방에 대해 깊이 생각하는 계기를 가졌다. 프랑스의 제롬 상스(Jerome Sans) 및 취리히, 뉴욕, 베이징, 이집트 카이로, 인도 멈베이 대표 등과 세계미술에 대해 논의하는 자리에서 느꼈던 것은 강대국과 겨루며 한국의 우수한 작가들을 세계 미술시장에서 키우는 일에는 우리 작가들과 화랑, 비평과 미술사가의 합력 노력이 절실히 필요하다는 사실이었다. 특히 거대 글로벌 자본이 몰리는 신흥미술시장으로서 아직은 변변한 현대미술관도 없지만 곧 엄청난 숫자로 미술관들이 세워질 두바이에 대한 강대국의 선점 노력에도 불구하고 한국이 겨냥해야 할 틈새시장은 어디인가에 대한 생각이 밀려왔다. 선진국의 헤게모니에 휩쓸리며 기웃거릴 것인가, 두바이와 한국의 관계적 특수성을 강화할 것인가 하는 문제다. 그런 점에서 한국현대미술에 대한 필자의 관점에서 기성 작가 및 신인 작가를 소개했던 작은 시도에 대한 호응도는 향후 한국의 두바이 진출에 막연함 대신 선명한 불빛을 발견한 느낌이었다.

세계적인 아트페어들이 도처에서 열리고 있지만 사실상 강대국의 주도적 헤게모니 아래 한국 미술시장의 위치는 아직까지 무척 협소하며 국가적 차원에서의 전략 또한 극히 미미한 편이다. 그런 점에서 한국이 주빈국으로 초대된 스페인 아르코(ARCO)에서 한국작가들이 대거 소개된 것은 매우 고무적인 일로 생각한다. 내년 걸프아트페어는 올해 참가 갤러리의 2배에 달하는 규모로 확장되어 열리게 된다.

Joining Global Art Forum at 1st Gulf Art Fair, Dubai

Both as an oil producing country and as a trading port, an emerging one of seven countries of UAE. The 1st Gulf Art Fair was held at the luxurious resort beach of Dubai. Gulf News headlined 'Exhibition reaffirms UAE's status as cultural hub, says Vice-President' with his news photo. Among the international famous 41 galleries, Gana Art gallery and gallery Hyundai participated from Korea. I found the influence of the great power of UK, seeing a great deal of weight on education program and global art forum held by the Sotheby's and the show.

When I participated at Global Art Forum as a representative Korean speaker, I realized it is the most urgent task to collaborate between Korean artists and galleries with critic, art historian to compete against great world art market powers. It is also the matter of reinforcing the special relation between Dubai and Korea as asian countries. Next Gulf Art Fair in 2008 will be held at double wide scale.

-Kim, Mi-Kyung

- 김미경(1958- ) 이화여대 서양화과 졸업. 동대학원 미술사학 박사, 현대미술사학회 회장 및 서양미술사학회, 현대미술사학회, 한국근대미술사학회, 동아시아문화학회 임원 역임.『모노하의 길에서 만난 이우환』(공간사, 2006),『한국의 실험미술』(시공사, 2003) 등 저술. 현 강남대 교수, 한국근현대미술연구소 소장.